The analysis out of Johns Hopkins University found that in Texas, after the adoption of an abortion ban in September 2021, there were 216 more infant deaths than expected between March and December the following year. The 2022 infant mortality rate in Texas went up 8% to 5.75 per 1,000 births, compared to a 2% increase in the rest of the U.S.
Experts in fetal development anticipated the rise in infant deaths when Texas blocked abortions after five or six weeks into pregnancy, preventing the detection of fetal abnormalities. The Texas law caused a 23% increase in deaths from birth defects, contrasting with a 3% decrease in the rest of the U.S.
The researchers were surprised by the findings due to infant deaths being relatively rare. They were unable to determine if the mortality rate increased more for specific races or socioeconomic groups, a concern echoed by experts like Tiffany Green focusing on racial disparities in reproductive health.
#infant-mortality #abortion-restrictions #racial-disparities #reproductive-health #research-findings
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